When working in a laboratory that requires precision work, any changes in the environment or equipment can impact the results. A laboratory must be able to rely on accurate results. This is why maintaining laboratory temperature and humidity is essential. It can affect accuracy if the humidity is too high or too low. Weather also plays a critical part in the results.

Laboratory Temperature and Humidity Guidelines 

Many organizations outline laboratory temperature and humidity requirements. The purpose of these guidelines is to prevent contamination. The recommended practices for calibration laboratories from the National Research Council Canada state that the optimal temperature range is between 18 and 28°C with a preferred setpoint of 23°C. Humidity should be between 10 to 60 percent. The agreed-upon standards set out by the International Standards Organization often come from a baseline suggestion The World Health Organization also has guidelines. These organizations will vary from lab to lab depending upon the industry and work done in your lab. It is modified based on needs.

Steps to Maintaining Temperature and Humidity

You can maintain the lab environment’s temperature and monitor the processes in several ways.

• Know what the optimal temperature and humidity range is needed for your lab.
• The processes for monitoring temperature.
• The tools used to maintain the temperature.
• The procedure for dealing with system malfunctions.

The ventilation systems and air flow play a role in temperature maintenance. Relative humidity is easier to control than temperature. Air purity is an essential factor. A positive pressure should be maintained to keep air quality within range. Humidity monitors should be placed more centrally to equipment. Placing them near doors or portals where frequent changes happen can skew data. A laboratory temperature and humidity monitor is a crucial piece to have. It tracks fluctuations and notifies when it drops too low or gets too high. The better monitors also help you set and maintain ideal temperatures.

Instruments Can Become Damaged 

Instruments in the lab can become damaged by changes in temperature and humidity. An accurate reading or calibrating equipment doesn’t matter when it is distorted. Things like air bubbles in a lens or a microchip shorting from accumulated water can occur with temperature and humidity problems. Instruments are easy to monitor for constants in temperature and humidity. However, a device that runs constantly will have a higher operating temperature.  

Strategy and the Best Tools

To maintain validity, you need consistent laboratory and equipment protocols. It starts with recording the laboratory temperature and humidity and expands to known variables. By having a strategy in place and an acceptable range of temperatures and relative humidity, you will be on your way to consistency. Contact us for any questions or help with preparing your laboratory and products that will assist. We are here to help.